Hemorrhoids: An Introduction

Your body’s rectum and anus play major roles in temporarily storing and fully eliminating feces and other waste material from your body.1 Maintaining the health of these body parts is important; otherwise you may experience health problems that not only will hinder proper function, but cause pain and discomfort as well.

One such condition is hemorrhoids, which are enlarged and swollen blood vessels that develop in the lower portion of your rectum and anus.2

While health experts have not determined the exact cause of hemorrhoids, the Mayo Clinic notes that they may form because of an increased pressure in the lower rectum. Other risk factors linked to hemorrhoids include prolonged sitting, obesity, a low-fiber diet and constipation or diarrhea.3

How Many People Are Affected by Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids usually affect adults aged 45 to 65 years old, but young people and children may experience them as well. Men are more prone to having hemorrhoids, but women may also develop them, especially during pregnancy.4

According to a 2016 Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery article, at least 10 million Americans (4.4 percent of the population) report a case of hemorrhoids annually.5 Harvard Health Publications notes that around half of people aged 50 years and above have already experienced at least one or more of the usual symptoms of hemorrhoids, or have required treatment.6

While most hemorrhoids are not life-threatening,7 they are literally a pain in the backside. However, there are pain-relieving protocols that are effective, inexpensive and can be done in the comfort of your own home. There are also surgical procedures for hemorrhoids, but these are advisable only if natural remedies haven’t worked.

Apart from addressing hemorrhoids once they appear, prevention is key. You can lower your risk for hemorrhoids (even if you don’t have them) by following a healthy and fiber-rich diet, incorporating more physical movement and even by changing the way you relieve yourself while on the toilet.